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Taking a snowboard lesson (part 2)
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Where do I go?
So you now have your equipment and it's time for your lesson. Make sure you ask when you buying the lesson where you are supposed to meet and at what time. There's usually a standard meeting place for the instructors and lessons usually go out at specific times.
What should I tell my instructor?
Make sure you inform your instructor of any health issues you may have. You will fall during the lesson and the instructor needs to know about any problems you may have before the lesson begins.
It's also important to tell the instructor about any athletic training or interests you may have. That way the can relate snowboarding to any skills you may already possess. An experienced instructor will adjust their lesson accordingly.
When do I put on my snowboard?
When the instructor tells you to and not before. Just place it on the ground with the base up and the bindings in the snow. That way it won't slide away on you.
What's the first thing they teach me?
They'll have you walk around a little to get you used to the boots and then they'll teach you "skating". This is where you have one foot strapped into the board and the other free. It's a little like riding a skateboard, hence the term "skating". You'll need this skill to get on and off the chairlift, and it acclimates you to being on a board.
How do I stop?
Well falling face first into the snow is probably the quickest, but it hurts a LOT! A better way is to learn how to turn. As you turn your board becomes perpendicular to the fall-line. That's a fancy way of saying: your board gets sideways. So instead of shooting down the mountain, it's go across the slope. When the board is pointing across the slope, simply tilt the board upwards (towards the top of the hill) until it stops.
NEVER EVER drop your downhill edge. That's the side of the board that's downhill of you. This will cause the board to catch and create a pivot point that drives all your momentum downhill. It will hurt. This is how you break wrists and get concussions.
How do I get back up the hill?
What you don't want to walk? Most beginner areas have a some sort of lift. If you are lucky, it has a chair-lift. They may seem scary, but trust me it's the easiest choice (excepting a gondola of course). Your instructor will teach the proper method and make sure you put the safety bar down. A chair-lift can stop suddenly and you could slide off. It's a long way down.
Just make sure you point your board (front foot first) up the hill or chair track. You should keep your rear foot out of the binding because it makes it easier for you to get around. Plus, if you fall in line you can get up quicker.
As for 'surface-lifts' they come in a wide variety. The best of the lot is the 'magic carpet'. It's a conveyor belt for skiers! Just walk on and up the hill you go.
Now the other two places have are rope-tows, poma lifts, and t-bars. Each is more insidious than the last. Designed for skiers, they make mince-meat of beginning snowboarders. Don't get obsessed with learning how to use these medieval torture devices. Concentrate in your lesson on riding. Before long you'll be able to move to a more civilized place where you can ride the chair-lift.
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